How the US Can Make the Apprenticeship Model Work
The Biden administration recognizes the benefits of skills-driven employment programs, but more must be done to make them widespread.
Paid, on-the-job experience can be a lot more engaging than sitting in class.
Photographer: Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
With the US unemployment rate near a five-decade low and job vacancies close to a record high, businesses say they are scrambling to find workers. Many complain that large and growing skills mismatches prevent them from getting the staff they need. While the Biden administration has pushed for large government spending increases to support college students and former college students, apprenticeship is a far lower-cost, quicker pathway to high skills and good jobs. This summer, the Labor Department announced the latest recipients of a $121 million grant to expand such programs. But more can be done — and fortunately, there are practical solutions.
Apprenticeships combine standard classroom learning with paid, on-the-job experience. They’re often seen as a win-win: Employers ensure that their workforce has the skills to succeed on the job and benefit from apprentices' productivity; apprentices earn wages and an opportunity to directly apply those skills, which can be far more engaging than sitting in class.